"Don't Stop Believin'" is perhaps Journey's finest moment of bombast rock. It's power balladry distilled to its purest essence, with Perry's wail, Jonathan Cain's trembling keyboards and Neal Schon's jagged guitar breaks all adding up to a timeless little tale of broken hearts. Journey pretty much has the one theme – the ravages of the human heart – and works it for all it's worth.
Unfortunately, Journey couldn't keep the momentum going. Their later work goes soft and soppy around the edges, losing the power and dipping dangerously into Richard Marx territory. The Greatest Hits CD sticks to their 1980s output, except for the nonessential bonus track "When You Love A Woman" from 1996. (I would've loved to see Steve Perry's highly Journey-esque solo hit "Oh Sherrie" included, but so it goes.)
Journey's often gotten a bad rap from critics. Rolling Stone infamously declared them to be "a dead end for San Francisco area rock ... utter triviality ... banality ... reek[s] of exploitative cynicism." Yet they sold zillions of records to an audience clearly touched by their plainspoken, hook-heavy rock. Journey isn't Elvis Costello or Bob Dylan, but Steve Perry's every-man point of view and a surplus of glittering lite-metal musical gems keeps their music from being written off just as '80s excess. Obviously, it ain't for everyone or every mood, but sometimes a Journey song just hits the spot.
If you're a nut for Journey, you'll look toward the 2-disc set The Essential Journey, released in 2001, for a more complete take on their career. But for most, Journey's Greatest Hits is enough to satisfy that power ballad urge, and leave you air-guitaring away in your bedroom for many a happy hour.
Article comments
1 - Josh
Most music critics are pompous asses who somehow think that by spewing harsh criticism they are somehow sophisticated. Journey wrote some damn great songs.
2 - Chris
The FAB Five, Perry, Schon, Cain, Smith and Valory "fired up" the stage together. As songwriters, Perry, Schon and Cain created music that touch our hearts and souls. We "feel" our own journey when we hear the songs.
As a vocalist, frontman and performer Perry reached the summit. NOBODY does it better! NO ONE!!!
3 - Rebecca
I always loved Journey. I don't think I've been to a wedding in the last 20 years where "Open Arms" hasn't been played, or in lieu of that, "Faithfully."
4 - Jackie
To me, Journey spearheaded the Power Ballad. There is to this day no one to fill their shoes. These songs are important to us because they drip with passionate heart and soul and can't help but touch us. Steve Perry is our voice and his songs our stories. We are all apart of this human condition.
5 - john z
Journey always hits a tender spot or brings back a great memory. Thanks for the great review...
6 - Craig
Dear all things Mr Steve Perry,
It's been a little long but I love the new pictures and site cutest picture of you with your Mom and Dad..i like especially the photo Day on the Green one with your red nikes swinging hip's i had the same shoes! Well anyway I thought Steve Perry was Native American. I guess i was wrong. Wow he's Portugese! I'm a 1/4 Portugese. That's probably why i lied him so much. Will make good artiste i think. Muscially, I really think side 2 of ESCAPE is very good but overshadowed by ESCAPE side one, of course. CAPTURED indeed, the best all around album. The song Wheel in the Sky a worldly song with holding time and still a favorite in the S.F bar & girls scenes and things...and Anytime the truest valued musical peace artistically the song just radiates together brilliantly following Steve Perry Vocals [look into my eyes to a new kind of way] Open Arms was the best love song ever written..Faithfully following just right behind? Like the A's or Joe Montanna with Steve Young! These songs are amazing! I have one question: the song Mother Father in it has the lyrics "...have faith believe..."? I wonder was faithfully already thought-up before the album Frontiers? hmmm? Thanx -
Yours,
Craig
7 - Craig
Nice to see "...lyric..." on the Journey page.
Dear Mr Steve Perry,
I love the new pictures and the new site! especially the photo of Steve and his red nikes! swinging hips i had the same shoes! I really think side 2 of ESCAPE is great but was overshadowed by side 1, a clover. CAPTURED is indeed the best album. ANYTIME artistically the song just radiates brilliantly together with Steve Perry's vocals [look into my eyes to a new kind of way]OPEN ARMS, was the best love song ever...FAITHFULLY following just right behind like two A's like Montanna with Steve Young! Two slow songs just amazing! One question: the song MOTHER, FATHER in it has the lyric snip "have faith believe" then was FAITHFULLY already thought of before the album FRONTIERS?Thanx,Craig
p.s. i always thought Frontiers and Trail of Tears and Steve Perry was Native American:)
8 - Maria
Steve,
Where are you? I've been looking for you. I would like to get together for lunch. [Personal contact info deleted]
9 - carole, england
still dream about you stevie
loved your songs for 25 years
10 - veco
Creo que su voz es y será la mejor de todos los tiempos. puedo escuchar sus canciones mil veces o más y siempre llegan al alma, derecho al corazón, Mr. Pery con todo respeto lo amo desde hace muchos años y lo amaré siempre....
11 - melissa
don,t stop believin lighits
separate wats stay awhile
after the fall open arms
lovin touchin send her my love
faithfully still they ride
stone in love
escape
line of fire
wheel in the sky
who,s crying now
any way you wanty it